UFC 132 Prelims: Guillard Flattens Roller in First

The surging Melvin
Guillard recorded his fifth consecutive win, as he blitzed
three-time collegiate All-American wrestler Shane
Roller with speed and power in a preliminary lightweight bout
at UFC
132 “Cruz vs. Faber 2” on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las Vegas. Guillard finished it 2:12 into the first
round.

“I’ve been training hard. I feel great,” Guillard said. “I feel a
lot of emotions right now. My whole life, I’ve battled so much, and
now I’m coming back to the top of my game. My life is in order, and
this is a great feeling. I know I’m making my dad proud right
now.”

Guillard (29-8-2, 1 NC, 10-4 UFC) cracked Roller with a beautiful,
short counter left hook, caught him with a knee from the clinch as
he returned to his feet and dropped him again with a straight left.
He then showered Roller (10-4, 1-1 UFC) with hammerfists for the
finish. At 28, Guillard, a Jackson’s
Mixed Martial Arts representative, has become a definite factor
in the lightweight division.

“I just keep knocking them out as they line them up,” he said. “I
don’t know how close I am [to a title shot].”

Dos Anjos Counter KOs Sotiropoulos

Rafael dos
Anjos needed less than a minute to dispatch fellow Brazilian
jiu-jitsu black belt George
Sotiropoulos, as he uncorked a blistering counter right hook
that left the dazed Aussie flat on his back in the center of the
cage. Referee Yves Lavigne quickly moved in to protect Sotiropoulos
(14-4, 7-2 UFC) from further damage. The end to the preliminary
lightweight tilt came 59 seconds into round one.

The knockout blow found its mark during a brief exchange between
the two 155-pounders. Dos Anjos’ fist met Sotiropoulos’ chin and
sent “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 semifinalist to the ground,
his head bouncing off the canvas. Dos Anjos (15-5, 4-3 UFC), who
had not fought in nearly a year, has won four of his past five
bouts.

Bowles Takes Decision, Appears to Re-Injure
Hand

Former WEC bantamweight champion Brian
Bowles took a unanimous decision from Takeya
Mizugaki in a preliminary matchup at 135 pounds, despite
appearing to suffer another hand injury. All three cageside judges
scored it for the oft-injured Bowles: 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. The
31-year-old remains undefeated in the UFC.

Mizugaki (14-6-2, 1-1 UFC) countered effectively throughout the
first round but lost his way in the second. Bowles trapped a low
kick, cracked him with a straight right hand, put him on the ground
and pounced, moving quickly to the back. From there, he latched a
body triangle and worked for a rear-naked choke until the end of
the period.

Bowles (10-1, 2-0 UFC) all but abandoned his right hand in round
three and looked to be in considerable discomfort. Still, he fought
through the pain, secured a takedown and again moved to Mizugaki’s
back, this time from a standing position. He closed the stronger of
the two, the wounded limb notwithstanding.

Aaron
Simpson File Photo

Simpson gave Tavares his first loss.

Simpson Hands Tavares First Loss

Aaron
Simpson did what he does best, as he controlled the clinch,
scored with takedowns, landed on occasion with his powerful right
hand and picked up a unanimous decision over the previously
unbeaten Brad
Tavares.

Simpson swept the scorecards -- 30-27 from all three judges -- in
the preliminary middleweight duel.

Simpson (10-2, 5-2 UFC) did much of his work in the clinch, as he
neutralized the talented but raw Hawaiian in tight quarters. His
approach may not have been pleasing to the eye, but it was
effective.

Simpson secured multiple takedowns in the third round, and though
he failed to keep Tavares (7-1, 2-1 UFC) on his back, he zapped his
energy and racked up points.

Njokuani Outclasses Winner in
Decision

WEC alum Anthony
Njokuani outclassed
Team Rough House representative Andre
Winner en route to a one-sided unanimous decision in an
undercard bout at 155 pounds. Scores were 30-26, 30-26 and 30-27 --
all for Njokuani. The Nigerian-born muay Thai stylist entered the
cage with losses in three of his last four appearances.

It became clear in the first round that Winner was outgunned on the
feet. Njokuani (14-5, 1 NC, 1-1 UFC) landed a series of low kicks,
beautiful counter uppercuts and various other strikes to the head
and body. He had Winner on rubbery legs late in the period, as he
unleashed a hellacious flurry on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9
finalist. Somehow, Winner (11-6-1, 2-4 UFC) survived to see round
two.

An overhand right and knees to the body and head, along with kicks
to the inside and outside of Winner’s leg, kept momentum in
Njokuani’s corner in the second and third rounds. Winner has
suffered three consecutive defeats, likely putting his roster spot
in the UFC in jeopardy.

Hougland Outpoints Walker in Octagon
Debut

Rumble on the Ridge champion Jeff
Hougland made a successful promotional debut, as he defeated
Donny
Walker by unanimous decision in a preliminary bantamweight
matchup. All three cageside judges scored it for Hougland: 29-28,
29-28 and 30-27. The 32-year-old Chicago native has won nine
consecutive fights, none more significant than this one.

Hougland (10-4, 1-0 UFC), a WEC veteran, was the aggressor from the
outset, as he delivered a first-round takedown and threatened
Walker with a guillotine choke. In the second, he picked up the
pace on his feet, as he landed a spinning-back fist, popped Walker
with repeated jabs and opened a cut above his opponent’s right eye.
Late in the period, he cinched another guillotine and nearly
finished it. Only the horn broke his grip.

To his credit, Walker (15-7, 0-1 UFC) tried to make a move in round
three, fighting effectively in the clinch and sprawling
successfully on attempted takedowns. However, he could not dig
himself out of the early hole. It was Walker’s first defeat in
nearly three years.